Thales announces a major boost for jobs and investment in the maritime industry with the news that it has been awarded a contract by BAE Systems to supply its anti-submarine warfare sonar for the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates.

The UK Defence Secretary has revealed HMS Glasgow will be the name of the first of eight City class Type 26 frigates as he cut her first piece of steel at Govan shipyard in Scotland today. HMS Glasgow will enter service with the Royal Navy in the mid 2020s.

The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) a $12 million task order for a full range of engineering services to continue modernizing the Ship Self-Defense System Mark 2 (SSDS MK2). The contract has a potential value of $61 million over five years, if all options are exercised. SSDS MK2 is a combat system designed for anti-air defense of U.S. and coalition partner aircraft carriers and amphibious ships. The system coordinates the ship's existing sensors, self-defense weapons and countermeasures to shorten the detect-to-engage cycle. "The system is critical to enhance the self-defense capabilities of the Navy's aircraft carriers…

The Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy team’s [NYSE: LMT] Baseline 9 Aegis Combat System recently completed multiple exercises including the longest-range engagement ever tested with a Standard Missile-6 (SM-6). This is the first major series of tests for the integrated air and missile defense (IAMD)-equipped USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), and highlights the system’s accuracy in identifying and destroying threats from beyond the radar horizon. The first of three Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) exercises involved a long-range mission, known as AS-2A, which used data from a non-Aegis system to identify targets in a stressing scenario. The second and…

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Navy successfully flew the unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout simultaneously with the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter for the first time. The capability demonstrates how a mix of aircraft can increase a ship commander's intelligence-gathering capabilities aboard the Littoral Combat Ship. The flight tests took place May 12, aboard the USS Freedom (LCS 1) off the coast of San Diego. Fire Scout complements the Sea Hawk because it can fly longer to maintain constant surveillance on a target or area of interest. "Utilizing the Fire Scout in operational maritime scenarios with manned aircraft will prove…

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received funding to produce pre-production units of the APR-39D(V)2 radar warning receiver (RWR)/electronic warfare management system (EWMS). Under terms of the joint services contract with the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman will produce 18 APR-39D(V)2 units. Delivery is anticipated in late 2014 to begin hardware-software and platform integration testing in 2015. The Northrop Grumman APR-39D(V)2 RWR/ EWMS is designed to maximize survivability by improving aircrew situational awareness via interactive management of all onboard sensors and countermeasures. The system provides 360-degree coverage to automatically detect and identify threat type, bearing and lethality. This affordable…

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded $35.5 million to provide the U.S. Navy with AN/AQS-20A minehunting sonar systems and equipment. The system leverages advanced sonar technologies to support the Navy's critical minehunting missions, ensuring safe access and passage for military and civilian vessels on the world's oceans and waterways. Deployed from the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) as the variable depth sonar for the AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System (RMS), the AN/AQS-20A system is towed undersea to scan the water in front, below and to the sides of the vehicle for anti-shipping mines. "An essential component of LCS, AN/AQS-20A advances the…

The U.S. Navy has achieved initial operational capability (IOC) on the MK-60 Patrol Coastal Griffin Missile System that includes the Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) Griffin missile. The milestone comes as the Navy continues to conduct littoral security operations in areas that require an immediate and precise response to confirmed threats. The MK-60 Patrol Coastal Griffin Missile System includes a proven laser targeting system, a Navy-designed launcher and battle management system combined with Raytheon's combat-proven Griffin missile. "The Griffin missile and MK-60 system assure the accuracy and lethality our sailors need to combat growing regional threats," said Captain Mike Ladner, Major…

More than £300M will be invested in the BAE Systems Barrow-in-Furness site, in a major redevelopment that will transform its submarine building capabilities. The eight-year programme, which will employ approximately 850 contractors at its peak, includes both new build facilities and the refurbishment of existing infrastructure in preparation for the construction of a successor to the Vanguard class. Tony Johns, Managing Director of BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines, said: “Redevelopment of the site is fundamental to the future of our business and will ensure we stay at the forefront of submarine design, build, test and commissioning. “This investment will provide…

Sea and Maritime Defense News

The UK Defence Secretary has revealed HMS Glasgow will be the name of the first of eight City class Type 26 frigates as he cut her first piece of steel at Govan shipyard in Scotland today. HMS Glasgow will enter service with the Royal Navy in the mid 2020s.

The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) a $12 million task order for a full range of engineering services to continue modernizing the Ship Self-Defense System Mark 2 (SSDS MK2).
The contract has a potential value of $61 million over five years, if all options are exercised. SSDS MK2 is a combat system designed for anti-air defense of U.S. and coalition partner aircraft carriers and amphibious ships. The system coordinates the ship's existing...

The Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy team’s Baseline 9 Aegis Combat System recently completed multiple exercises including the longest-range engagement ever tested with a Standard Missile-6 (SM-6).
This is the first major series of tests for the integrated air and missile defense (IAMD)-equipped USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), and highlights the system’s accuracy in identifying and destroying threats from beyond the radar horizon. The first of three Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) exercises...

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Navy successfully flew the unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout simultaneously with the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter for the first time. The capability demonstrates how a mix of aircraft can increase a ship commander's intelligence-gathering capabilities aboard the Littoral Combat Ship.
The flight tests took place May 12, aboard the USS Freedom (LCS 1) off the coast of San Diego. Fire Scout complements the Sea Hawk because it can fly longer...

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received funding to produce pre-production units of the APR-39D(V)2 radar warning receiver (RWR)/electronic warfare management system (EWMS).
Under terms of the joint services contract with the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman will produce 18 APR-39D(V)2 units. Delivery is anticipated in late 2014 to begin hardware-software and platform integration testing in 2015. The Northrop Grumman APR-39D(V)2 RWR/ EWMS is designed to maximize survivability by improving aircrew situational awareness via interactive...

The U.S. Navy has achieved initial operational capability (IOC) on the MK-60 Patrol Coastal Griffin Missile System that includes the Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) Griffin missile.
The milestone comes as the Navy continues to conduct littoral security operations in areas that require an immediate and precise response to confirmed threats. The MK-60 Patrol Coastal Griffin Missile System includes a proven laser targeting system, a Navy-designed launcher and battle management system combined with Raytheon's combat-proven Griffin missile.
"The...

More than £300M will be invested in the BAE Systems Barrow-in-Furness site, in a major redevelopment that will transform its submarine building capabilities.
The eight-year programme, which will employ approximately 850 contractors at its peak, includes both new build facilities and the refurbishment of existing infrastructure in preparation for the construction of a successor to the Vanguard class. Tony Johns, Managing Director of BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines, said: “Redevelopment of the site is fundamental to...

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded $35.5 million to provide the U.S. Navy with AN/AQS-20A minehunting sonar systems and equipment.
The system leverages advanced sonar technologies to support the Navy's critical minehunting missions, ensuring safe access and passage for military and civilian vessels on the world's oceans and waterways. Deployed from the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) as the variable depth sonar for the AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System (RMS), the AN/AQS-20A system is towed undersea to...

BAE Systems has signed a £6million contract to extend its support to Warships.
This extension to the existing phase two service contract will allow the continuation of its Class Output Management (COM) and Design Management Services (DMS) which offer through life, global support to ships. The Class Output Management and Design Services Teams are responsible for providing a one stop shop of support to HMS Illustrious, the Hunt Class and the Type 23 Class warships as...

Work is underway on the new £22m contract to support and provide maintenance to the Royal Navy’s River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs).
Following a successful track record of supporting these Portsmouth based ships for over a decade and after a competitive tender process, BAE Systems was awarded the contract in September, guaranteeing the work for the next five years. The maintenance contract will provide the Royal Navy with 320 operationally available days per ship per...

HMS Illustrious has passed through the Suez Canal and is now hot-footing across the Mediterranean for her delayed homecoming.
The sailors and their families missed a united Christmas after the helicopter carrier was diverted to the Philippines to help people affected by a typhoon. This is a sight to cheer the sailors of HMS Illustrious and their families – the great carrier passing through Suez. The Portsmouth-based warship is now two-thirds of her way home from...

BAE Systems has a successful track record of supporting the UK’s Ministry of Defence Portsmouth based ships over the last ten years. Following a competitive tender process run by DE&S Commercially Supported Shipping, BAE Systems was awarded the contract for the next five years to 2018.
The Contracting for Availability (CFA) service for the River Class will provide the Royal Navy with 320 operationally available days per ship per year. This will enable the ships to...

Adversaries’ sophisticated air defense systems can make it difficult for current air- and surface-launched anti-ship missiles to hit their targets at long range. To engage specific enemy warships from beyond the reach of counter-fire systems, warfighters may require launching multiple missiles or employing overhead targeting assets such as radar-equipped planes or Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites—resources that may not always be available. To help address these challenges, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and...

Approximately 300 Royal Australian Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy personnel have concluded the maritime security exercise, Exercise Mastex. The Australian ANZAC Class Frigate, HMAS Ballarat, joined the Lekiu Class Frigate KD Lekiu in the North Malacca Straits for the week long bilateral maritime exercise. Mastex provided both navies with the opportunity to improve understanding of how the other operates in common aspects of naval warfare.
Commanding Officer Ballarat, Commander Matthew Doornbos RAN, said the exercise was...

The Royal Australian Navy will welcome over twenty international warships to a variety of Australian ports in the lead up to October’s International Fleet Review in Sydney. The warships will each make operational visits to other Australian ports for customs clearance and logistics resupply prior to arriving in Sydney to participate in the review.
While the ships will not be open to the public during their logistics visits, there are opportunities to visit them in...

The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $136.2 million contract for federal FY13 to remanufacture, overhaul and upgrade 19 Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems and produce four SeaRAM Anti-ship Missile Defense Systems. This contract includes a $94.8 million option for FY14 covering an additional 12 Phalanx and four SeaRAM systems. The option, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $231 million.
"Phalanx is a vital ship self-defense system, providing the critical...

The Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy team’s Aegis Combat System successfully completed the first live firing test that proves the system can defend beyond its line of sight by integrating data from a remote sensor to intercept a target. The latest Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) test marks the first test at sea, and the second consecutive time this year, where Aegis used remote data to successfully intercept a target. Using the...

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received a Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, to continue its 24/7 support of the U.S. Navy fleet for three shipboard systems. Under the not-to-exceed $24.8 million one-year contract, Northrop Grumman will provide 150 PBL repair assembly kits and spare parts for the WSN-7 ring laser gyro, the AN/BPS-15/16 submarine radar detecting and range set, and the DDG steering and scalable integrated bridge...